Scripture Reading: Mark 1:14-20

Today’s reading is phase two of God’s plan, phase two of the implementation of the redemption of all humanity. Jesus has now been baptized and the ministry passes from John the Baptist to Jesus. Jesus begins His ministry by preaching in Galilee.  He proclaims the good news of the Kingdom of God, saying the Kingdom of God has come near and we must repent and believe the good news. He then goes out and starts picking followers saying, “follow me.”  It happens so quickly in the book of Mark that we can miss the details, we can miss what a wonder it is that Jesus could draw people to Himself so easily. 

The disciples followed with urgency in their hearts and without question.  Do you follow anyone so easily? Has there ever been a person that you just had to follow?  Not a person that you were forced to follow, but a person you wanted to follow. 

I did. He was my fourth-grade camp counselor. I would follow him wherever he would go.  Why?  Because he cared about his campers and because he was there for us when we needed him.  Kids saw Jesus through his words and actions. This camp counselor made a lasting impression on me, but I don’t even remember his name! I have been influenced by a man, whose name I can’t remember, but whose life I won’t forget.

So, what is unique about Jesus that made people want to follow Him?  In today’s scripture reading, He hadn’t done a single miracle up to this point. Jesus did lead people places, and He did explain to them who He was, but He was not shamelessly self-promoting Himself.  Jesus drew people to Himself even though He hadn’t done anything impressive.  Up to this point in the gospel of Mark, Jesus’ baptism was all that had happened.  Those who were there heard the voice of His Father say, “You are my son whom I love, with you I am well pleased.”  Jesus Himself had not done anything yet…so what is it that draws people to Him? 

The answer is, He spoke of the Kingdom of God, and He spoke of the things that God was doing here in their midst. He was declaring to them that the kingdom of God was near.  The Kingdom is beginning, Jesus was declaring, and He said you can be a part of it.  Jesus was inviting them to follow and to become part of something greater than themselves.  Far greater than they could ever have done on their own, He was inviting them to be a part of the Kingdom of God.

That brings us back to us, and to more questions about our lives.  What are you living for?  Are you living for big things?  Are you living for great things?  When you think about what gets you out of bed in the morning, what motivates you day-to-day, what motivates you in this season of life?  What are you living for?  As you are evaluating those questions, I’m guessing that in some of your minds you are saying “Well gee he said big things and the things that are happening in my life are not big.”  Maybe a better question is this, are you investing yourself in lasting things?  Sometimes those lasting things can be very small.  Sometimes those lasting things don’t seem to be great, but you need to be reminded that not everyone is called for the same thing.  Every one of us is called to do something different, every one of us is uniquely called as we follow Jesus.

Jesus was inviting His followers to be a part of something lasting. As He came to them in the midst of their working day, He called them in a way that demanded a response.  The gospel call always demands a response in us. 

Simon and Andrew are working by the sea when Jesus sees them casting their nets, for they were fishermen.  In the midst of the working day Jesus says, “Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  One of the things I love about this is He encounters them right where they are. He finds them fishing, and He says I have a better catch for you.  If they were farming, Jesus would say, “I want you to harvest for me.”  If it was today and you were working on a car engine, “I want you to be a gear head for me.” Take those things that you know, and I want you to take them and use them for the sake of the Kingdom.  “Come follow me,” Jesus says, “and I will make you fishers of people for the sake of the Kingdom.”  And immediately they left their nets and they followed Jesus.

Jesus does the same for the two brothers James and John, “follow me.”  This call of Jesus demanded such a response that they immediately left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men and they followed Him. 

This gospel call was a tremendously powerful thing, powerful enough that it would cause them to leave behind everything that they knew in order that they follow Jesus.  It means you are going to have to leave some stuff behind.  So, what are you called to leave behind?  Your sinful ways?  Those parts of your life that you don’t like to discuss, but secretly enjoy?  God is calling you to leave those behind. Jesus’ call was to teach us to repent of our sinful ways, to leave them in the past, and allow them to be reconciled by His resurrection. 

What are you called to leave behind?  I don’t want you to think that this gospel call is a tremendous burden, one that you can never live up to. On the contrary I want you to read these passages and understand that it’s not just a call that they assented, that God didn’t come to them in the form of Jesus and force them to follow Him. They knew who Jesus was.  There was something about Jesus that drew them to Him.  Although they left things behind, they gained Jesus, who was worth more than what they had to give up.

We are all called to be leaders in the church and to make more disciples of Christ. Leadership comes in many shapes and sizes, but we are all called by God to make a difference.  Leaders are needed in the church and are so important, but as you heard they are varied in the gifts they bring.  The thing is to let God use your gifts for His glory.  I want to thank the leaders who have served this last year, the work that they have put into the church.  And I want to thank the new leaders who are stepping up.  We have work ahead of us, but you are here for a reason.  Let’s find out what the reason is together. Amen.